SCOTT27
Lap Time Luminary
Intelligent lightweight construction: targeted innovation-heightening
efficiency.
Optimised material utilisation in the carbon production.
BMW already plays a leading role in the utilisation of carbon fibre reinforced
plastic (CFRP) in the automotive industry, which will be considerably
increased when series production of the BMW i3 and BMW i8 models
announced for 2013 commences. Both models have a passenger cell
produced from CFRP, which combines extreme stability with a far lower
weight compared to steel, but also to aluminium. This represents the first
introduction of this material, known up till now from Formula One racing and
the aviation industry, to large-scale series production of cars.
In the medium and long term, not only the models produced under a subbrand
of BMW will profit from this innovative construction. During production
development for the passenger cells of the BMW i3 and BMW i8 models an
innovative process for further processing of the cuttings from the carbon fibre
mats and textiles was conceived. In future these can be used 100 percent for
the production of body components. In this way it will be possible to equip
other models with extremely light and high-grade carbon fibre components.
Increasing the carbon fibre proportion throughout all segments will thus be
possible at considerably lower costs than hitherto.
The cuttings are subjected to a newly developed process, during which the
carbon fibre cuttings of varying length are woven into CFRP mats of the
required size and then, in exactly the manner as the original material, dipped in artificial resin and cured. The strength of the material produced in this way is several times higher than that of carbon fibre reinforced plastic. It equals the strength of a conventional steel component – at a weight reducedto less than a quarter.
In the course of predevelopment utilisation of processed CFRP forexample
was tested in the prototype of a bonnet for a BMW M model. The lid consists
of two carbon layers enclosing either a Nomex plastic or a recycled-paper
honeycomb. Also the prototype of a seat shell was produced from the
material created through the new technology.
The BMW M GmbH has already gathered extensive experience in the utilisation of CFRP in series development. For example, the current BMW M3 Coupé has a carbon fibre roof.
efficiency.
Optimised material utilisation in the carbon production.
BMW already plays a leading role in the utilisation of carbon fibre reinforced
plastic (CFRP) in the automotive industry, which will be considerably
increased when series production of the BMW i3 and BMW i8 models
announced for 2013 commences. Both models have a passenger cell
produced from CFRP, which combines extreme stability with a far lower
weight compared to steel, but also to aluminium. This represents the first
introduction of this material, known up till now from Formula One racing and
the aviation industry, to large-scale series production of cars.
In the medium and long term, not only the models produced under a subbrand
of BMW will profit from this innovative construction. During production
development for the passenger cells of the BMW i3 and BMW i8 models an
innovative process for further processing of the cuttings from the carbon fibre
mats and textiles was conceived. In future these can be used 100 percent for
the production of body components. In this way it will be possible to equip
other models with extremely light and high-grade carbon fibre components.
Increasing the carbon fibre proportion throughout all segments will thus be
possible at considerably lower costs than hitherto.
The cuttings are subjected to a newly developed process, during which the
carbon fibre cuttings of varying length are woven into CFRP mats of the
required size and then, in exactly the manner as the original material, dipped in artificial resin and cured. The strength of the material produced in this way is several times higher than that of carbon fibre reinforced plastic. It equals the strength of a conventional steel component – at a weight reducedto less than a quarter.
In the course of predevelopment utilisation of processed CFRP forexample
was tested in the prototype of a bonnet for a BMW M model. The lid consists
of two carbon layers enclosing either a Nomex plastic or a recycled-paper
honeycomb. Also the prototype of a seat shell was produced from the
material created through the new technology.
The BMW M GmbH has already gathered extensive experience in the utilisation of CFRP in series development. For example, the current BMW M3 Coupé has a carbon fibre roof.
